Track-laying machine.



A. LIGHTELL.

TRACK LAYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 29, 1916.

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TRACK LAYING MACHINE.

APPLICAHON FILED FEB. 29, I916- 1,*215,172. Patented Feb. 6,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IMMUNE Z A. LlGHTELL.

TRACK LAYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 29, I916.

Patented Feb. 6, 1 91 7 3 SHEETS SHEET 3- (lttmmmgg 2 PATENT ADAM LIGHTELL, OF PORT ALLEN, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 JAMES MURRAY, 0F NEW QRLEANS, LOUISIANA.

TRACK-LAYING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

Application filed February 29, 1916. Serial No. 81,126.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADAM LIGHTELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Port Allen, in the parish of West Baton Rouge and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Track- Laying Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in track laying machines, and appertalns more particularly to that type of machine in which the rails and ties are joined together on a flat car behind the machine, from which they are removed and placed in position.

The object of my invention is to provide a derrick of novel construction which is capable of being fastened to the rail sections and kept parallel thereto until the track is laid. Other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds and will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a loaded flat car, and the loader or derrick car at one end thereof at work;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view disclosing the mounting of the boom section on the frame of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 1 is a detailed perspective view of the grappling mechanism; a

Fig. 5 and 6 are details of the grappllng mechanism; and

Fig. 7 is a detailed perspective view of the vertical brace.

The frame 1 is mounted upon the wheels 2 and carries on the turn table 3 the floor 1. This floor 4 carries all the moving. and r0- tating parts and is provided at the forward end with a steel brace 5, which is main tained in a vertical plane by means of the braces 6 and 7. At each end of this brace 5 is provided a bearing which carries gear wheels 8 and 9. A hoisting drum 10 is supported on the floor behind the steel brace 5 over which a chain cable 11 passes. This chain 11 is adapted to run over the gear wheels 8 and 9 on the brace 5.

A derrick, or boom 12 is provided at its rear end with a bearing 13 in which is located the idler wheel 14, adapted to press against the brace 5, and is capable of movement up and down thereon. This is rendered possible by fastening the chain 11 to some point on the rear end of the boom 12, such as the bearing 13.

It will be seen that the rotation of the hoisting drum 10 controls the vertical movement of the rear end of the boom 12.

To the other end of the boom 12, as at 11, is fastened a cable 15, which passes over a pulley 16 on the mast 17 mounted on the floor 1, thence down to the hoisting drum 18. Both the drum 18 and the drum 10 are operated with power from the boiler house 19.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a device carrying a boom which is capable of being raised from either end, although, of course, it is obvious that it is intended to operate both ends together. In other words the boom 12 is hoisted at both ends, then the turn table is operated until the boom is positioned above the flat car upon which the rails and ties are being made up, or upon which the completed sections are piled. Then the boom is lowered into position, so that the grappling hooks may engage the rails of the section to be moved, then the boom is raised, the turn table rotates, and the section is placed on the ground, with nothing remaining to be done but the joining of the ends of two sections together by fish plates.

And suitable means (not shown) may be provided for the movement of the car in either direction.

In the construction of my invention I have found it expedient to use a grappling iron as shown, instead of theordinary hook with which a derrick is provided. A rigid supporting bar 23 is provided with the two levers 25 and 26 pivoted at 27 and 28. At the bottom of the supporting bar 23 is pivoted,-as at 29 and 30, the clamping bars 31 and 32. The lower end of each of these rods 31 and 32 is adapted to embrace one side of the steel rail upon the actuation of the levers 25 and 26, which are exerting a pull through the rod 33, whereby the rail is clamped between the rods 31 and 32.

At the bottom of the supporting bar is placed a cross strip 34 as a brace.

The levers 25 and 26 are provided with the ratchet members 25 and 26' adapted to hold said levers where set. These grappling hooks are adapted to be supported from cross strips 35 on the boom 12.

I also provide any standard method of turning the turn table on the support.

It is obvious that many slight changes could be made in this construction Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and I do not Wish to be limited to the precise structure set forth, but

I claim:

1. In a track laying machine, the combination with a frame, of a turntable on said frame, a mast carried by said turntable, bracing means independently mounted on said turntable, a boom mounted upon said 'mounted on said brace, av horizontal boom slidably mounted on said brace, a cablepassing over said rollers on said brace and engaging said boom, means for operating said cable, hoisting means connected to another portion of said boom and passing over the roller on said mast, means for operating said hoisting means, and means for supporting a track to be laid:

3. In a track laying machine the com-V bination Witha rotatable frame. carryingdrums, of a mast mounted on said frame carrying a roller, a brace mounted" independently of said mast on said frame, rollers on said brace, a boom carrying an idler roller slidably mounted, on said brace, hoisting means running from one of the drums over the rollers of said brace en gaging the boom, a second hoisting means fastenedto the boom running over'the roller of said mast to another of said drums, and

means on said boom for holding the. rails.

4. In a track. laying machine, the combination with a frame, of a mast mounted thereon, a vertical brace mounted on said frame in a different location from but in a plane substantially parallel with said mast, a boom vertically movable upon said brace, means for raising and lowering said boom,

and grappling means carried by said boom for the engagement of track rails to be laid.

5. In atrack laying machine, the combinationwith a frame, of a mast mounted thereon, a vertical brace mounted on said frame ina difi'erent location from but in a plane substantially parallel With said mast, saidbrace comprising-a plate having longitudinal ribs thereon, a boom vertically movable-upon saidbrace, means for raising and lowering said boom, and grappling means carried by. said boom for the engagement oftrackrails to be laid. V r

6. Ina track laying machine thecombinationwith a frame, ofa vertical brace mounted on said frame, sets of rollers mounted in the extremities of said'brace spaced apart, rotarymeans on said frame, a boom movablymounted against saidbrace, and sets of chains passing from one side of said boom around the rollers, said rotary means and said other rollers, engaging the opposite side of said boom whereby vertical movement of the boom is provided for and oscillation of the boom is rendered impossible. V V 7 In testimony whereof I 'aflix my signature.

'ADAMLIGHTELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing thefCoimhissioner of-Patents,

Washington, 17.0! r 

